AT&T’s intention to enter the in-flight service biz was announced with much fanfare last April; the wireless carrier planned to challenge incumbents like Gogo by constructing an air-to-ground network in the US which would have delivered internet at 4G LTE speeds to domestic flights. Those plans, though, have now fallen through. An AT&T spokesperson told RunwayGirl Network that the company ultimately deemed the venture too risky.
AT&T’s recent acquisition of Mexico carrier Iusacell may have had something to do with it. The $2.5 billion deal apparently signaled a prioritization of the company’s capital in safer markets; the spokesperson said that AT&T will focus its investments on “international and video.”
Anyone hoping for real competition in inflight internet will have to wait a little longer, it seems.
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